Dear friends, clients, and partners,
Warmest wishes for a joyful Easter and a beautiful Pasquetta! 🌸
Easter in Italy: Bright, Flavorful, and Deeply Felt
When mimosa trees begin to bloom in Italian cities, when colomba di Pasqua appears in bakeries, and chocolate eggs shine in shop windows, the entire country gradually shifts into a festive rhythm.
Italians know how to prepare for Easter leisurely, meaningfully, and joyfully. Easter is not only a religious observance, but also a moment when spring truly enters the home.
Easter in Italy is a Sunday filled with the aroma of focaccia, a table full of lovingly prepared dishes, warm conversations, and the feeling that time slows down just enough for people to enjoy its richness.
A Springtime Celebration in Piazza di Spagna
Where Flowers, History, and Joy Bloom Together
During the Easter period, central squares such as Piazza di Spagna become living postcards. Flower displays, local celebrations, and the first real taste of spring in the air make Easter a truly special season across the country.
Easter Begins in the Kitchen
Traditional Recipes, Symbolic Dishes, and Culinary Joy
If there’s a language that all Italians understand deeply, it’s the language of food. And during Easter, this language becomes even more expressive and emotional. Each region has its own traditional dishes, its own recipes passed down through generations, and its own flavors.
The colomba di Pasqua—a soft, brioche-style cake shaped like a dove and covered with pearl sugar and almonds—is one of the most iconic symbols on the Easter table. It is enjoyed at breakfast, in the afternoon, or with a strong espresso after lunch.
Chocolate eggs are another much-loved tradition. More than just sweets, they are small celebrations in themselves. Italians, especially children, love to discover the surprises hidden inside—from toys to jewelry or tech gadgets. Some artisan chocolatiers create entire collections of chocolate artworks, as refined and imaginative as pieces in a fashion show.
The Easter lunch rarely passes without agnello al forno—roast lamb seasoned with herbs, olive oil, and potatoes. In Lombardy, veal is often served, while in the South, goat meat is popular, reflecting regional culinary traditions.
Another essential is the torta Pasqualina—a savory pie made with layers of puff pastry, ricotta cheese, leafy greens, and whole boiled eggs baked inside. It is typically prepared in advance to be packed for the traditional Easter Monday picnic, known as Pasquetta.
For dessert, many families serve salame al cioccolato, a chocolate “salami” made with crushed biscuits and cocoa—an Easter favorite for children.
These dishes are always accompanied by wine: white wines from Umbria, rosé from Apulia, and sparkling wines from Veneto. In Italy, taste and tradition go hand in hand.
Easter Weekend: Spring, Family, and the Art of Slow Living
Easter Sunday is one of the most cherished and festive days in the Italian calendar. Unlike Christmas, which is usually spent at home, Easter in Italy is often celebrated outdoors, surrounded by nature, blooming landscapes, and family.
The morning begins with gifts for children—large, beautifully wrapped chocolate eggs with surprises hidden inside. Sometimes these surprises are simple toys; other times, they are small jewels or electronics.
After that comes the traditional Easter lunch, where entire families gather, often bringing together several generations around the same table. Each region has its own Easter menu, but roast meats, homemade pasta, fresh vegetables, and sweet baked goods are always present.
Easter Sunday is also a day for doing… absolutely nothing. Long walks, sunshine, relaxed conversations, and a good glass of wine create the perfect atmosphere for what Italians call “dolce far niente”—the sweet art of doing nothing.
Pasquetta: Picnics, Nature, and the Italian Way of Life
Pasquetta, or “Little Easter,” is the name Italians give to Easter Monday, a public holiday that is celebrated with just as much enthusiasm as Easter itself.
As the Italian saying goes:
“Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi” — “Christmas with your family, Easter with whomever you like.”
On this day, Italians head outdoors—into parks, vineyards, hills, and countryside villas. Whether with friends, family, or loved ones, people take to nature with a sense of freedom and celebration. You don’t need to own a country house; a picnic blanket, a basket, and a good mood are enough.
What Italians pack for their Pasquetta picnic:
Roasted meats or sandwiches
Easter pies and colomba
Light appetizers and wine
Board games, music, and laughter
In regions like Umbria and Tuscany, traditional festivals and outdoor gatherings bring communities together. In Calabria and Sicily, the streets come alive with processions, theatrical performances, and local celebrations that mix sacred rituals with popular joy.
Italy’s Easter Mosaic: Region by Region
Every part of Italy celebrates Easter in its own way—and that diversity is what makes the season so culturally rich and emotionally powerful.
Umbria: Silence, Tradition, and Candlelight
In Assisi and the surrounding villages, Easter is marked by a deeply spiritual atmosphere. The streets are illuminated by torches and candles, while monks chant ancient hymns. Bells ring through the air, and the whole environment feels suspended in time, echoing the Middle Ages. Here, respect for tradition and spiritual reflection define the holiday.
Sicily: Processions, Drama, and Emotion
In Sicily, Easter is vibrant, theatrical, and intense. Massive statues are carried through the streets, accompanied by men in hoods, music, and crowds filled with passion. In cities like Trapani and Erice, Easter becomes a living performance, where faith, history, and community come together with astonishing energy.
Tuscany: Taste, Beauty, and Historical Elegance
Tuscany brings together flavors, festivals, and elegance. In Arezzo and Siena, Easter is celebrated with traditional fairs, Renaissance parades, and street music. Bakeries overflow with seasonal treats, wines are poured generously, and the atmosphere is one of graceful festivity.
Rome and the Vatican: A Sacred and Universal Easter
Easter in Rome is something truly unique. The celebration is felt not only in St. Peter’s Square during the Pope’s Mass, but throughout the streets and soul of the Eternal City.
You walk through alleyways filled with the scent of roasted almonds and espresso, pass by bakeries with Easter pastries, and see pilgrims, tourists, and locals sharing moments of joy. People smile, exchange slices of colomba, and take photographs under blooming trees.
During these days, Rome becomes softer, brighter, and more intimate, revealing a gentler rhythm and deeper beauty.
Easter in Italy: A Moment When the Country Reveals Its Soul
Easter is not just a long weekend. It is a time when Italy seems to pull back the curtain and present itself without ornamentation or rush. There are no crowds, no stress—only the real, living heart of Italy. Warm, heartfelt, flavorful, and full of spring.
This is the season when Italy invites you to slow down, explore, and connect. Many of our clients tell us that Easter is when they begin to see Italy not only as a place to visit—but as a place where they want to stay longer.
To return more often.
To perhaps make a home.
To truly belong.
